Advisory Group

Resources

The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and Groundwater Daughter Directive (2006/118/EC) (GDD) require Member States to prevent inputs of hazardous substances into groundwater subject to various exemptions. The documents below set out the list of standards that can be used to assess inputs of hazardous substances into groundwater.

Please note that this guidance is for information only; it should not to be used in the classification of ecological status until information is available on which of the species listed are considered ‘high impact'.

The alarm list contains species thought to pose a risk to surface waters and their ecological status under the EC Water Framework Directive, but whose presence has not yet been recorded in Great Britain.

The working paper outlining the impact classification of alien species has been updated (05/02/2014) following the completion of additional risk assessments by GBNNSS and Phase 3 of the review of Environmental Standards.

This classification method enables the assessment of invertebrates in rivers in relation to general degradation, including organic pollution. Whalley, Hawkes, Paisley & Trigg (WHPT) metrics replace the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) metrics used for status classifications in the first river basin planning cycle.

Phytobenthos are good indicators of nutrient enrichment and can be used to assess lake water quality. Diatoms are the main plant groups that we use because their silica cell walls make them easy to identify under the microscope.

Phytobenthos are good indicators of nutrient enrichment and other pressures, and can be used to assess river water quality. Diatoms are the main plant groups that we use because their silica shells are easy to identify under the microscope.

This method statement provides guidance on the use of the metal bioavailability assessment tool (M-BAT) for practitioners involved in monitoring, assessment and classification using the new EQSbioavailable that have been developed for a number of metals under the Water F